Articles

Blue Collar Runner of the Month

Blue Collar Runner of the Month

October 23, 2015

For The Love Of Running: How Elkanah Kibet Went From A Deployment In Iraq To 2:11:31 At The Chicago Marathon In Less Than A Year

In March, this man was finishing up a 9-month US Army deployment to Iraq and Kuwait. While overseas, he never gave up on his dream. Now after a sensational and bold marathon debut in Chicago, where he went out in 65:13 - just 1:12 off of his PR, he's a top contender for Team USA for the 2016 Olympics. *MB: LetsRun, meet US Army solider and Olympic marathon contender Elkanah Kibet.
February 18, 2015

The Nate Houle Story: "Trying to live life while you've still got it."

Nate Houle had it all: a beautiful wife, wonderful son, and his dream job coaching track at his alma mater Southern Utah University (Cam Levins' school, Nate was Cam's teammate). Then, in the span of five months, he lost his job, and was diagnosed with a rare cancer. Rather than make Nate bitter, the cancer has given Nate a new appreciation for life and God's plan for him. That makes him our Runner of the Month.

December 11, 2014

10 Years Later: Finding Kenny Cormier

10 years ago today Kenny Cormier was atop the running world after winning the 2004 Foot Locker National Championship thanks to his legendary 100+ miles per week. Three years later, even though Arkansas coach John McDonnell said, "He had it all -- the head, the body," he was completely out of the sport and joining the Marines. This is his story 10 years later.
September 24, 2014

Book Review: Wannabe Distance God by Timothy Tays and Blue Collar Runner of the Month #2

Unless you ran in the Big 8 Conference in the early 1980s, you've probably never heard of Tays. His book, Wannabe Distance God, explains what it was like for him to run under the legendary Bob Timmons (Jim Ryun's coach) at Kansas and how he (like many LRCers, we suspect) struggled to come to terms with the fact that he was never going to be one of the world's elite. Tays' story is compelling and his passion for the sport and desire for greatness make him our choice for Blue Collar Runner of the Month.
August 08, 2014

A Real Running Hero: The Flo Groberg Story

Two years ago today former Maryland track and field and cross country runner Flo Groberg helped thwart a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan.  This is his story.